Small Town Murder

Episode: "The Dark Prince Of Belmont County – Bellaire, Ohio"

Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman

Release Date: December 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, James and Jimmie return to Ohio—specifically, the small town of Bellaire—for a case they previously covered as a virtual Halloween live show. This time, listeners get the full, in-depth breakdown of the infamous 1995 double murder committed by Nathan Brooks, dubbed by the media as the "Dark Prince of Belmont County." The hosts combine dark humor and thorough research to unpack the town’s history, the Brooks family background, Nathan’s psychological unraveling, and the media-fueled "Satanic Panic" aftermath. Throughout, they maintain their signature balance of empathy for the victims and comedic commentary on both local characters and the over-the-top demonic explanations that followed.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Introducing Bellaire, Ohio (05:14–11:54)

• Geography and Demographics:
  • Small town in eastern Ohio, “Glass City.”
  • Population: ~3,927.
  • Median household income: $39,972—nearly half the national average.
  • Median home cost: $92,100.
• History:
  • Founded in 1836, named after Bel Air, Maryland.
  • Notable for its historic glass industry and the now-abandoned Bellaire Bridge, featured in Silence of the Lambs.
• Local Color and Events:
  • High school football central to community ("Go Big Reds!").
  • Festivals: Harvest Festival, scarecrow contest, square dancing, pet parade.
• Town Reviews:
  • Range from glowing praise for small-town life to concerns about decline and drugs, though statistically low crime rates.

Memorable Quotes

• "People just smoking glass all over the place." – James [06:32]
• “Midwest does do a hot dog pretty well.” – Jimmy [10:34]

2. The Brooks Family & Early Red Flags (12:09–22:44)

• Family Background:
  • Terry (dad) – former mail carrier, strict, heavy drinker.
  • Marilyn (mom) – pension clerk, seen as very kind.
  • Three sons: James (oldest), Nathan (middle), Ryan (youngest).
• Nathan Brooks:
  • Once wanted to be a priest and altar boy—“Not a lot of 12-year-olds going, ‘Hey, what's up with this? No sex, weird smell… Floor length frock?’” – James [16:35]
  • Early signs of trouble:
    • Animal cruelty—nailing live fish to trees.
    • Fascination with death and the occult.
    • Regular butane inhalation, possible resulting brain damage.
    • Not fitting in at school; obsessed with satanic imagery and literature.
    • Became a loner as younger brother Ryan excelled in football and popularity.

3. Building Tensions & The Hit List (22:44–41:30)

• Nathan’s Reputation:
  • Perceived as weird rather than overtly dangerous. Multiple classmates recall unsettling conversations or "dark vibes," but most adults dismiss concerns as teenage acting out.
• Obsession with Satanism:
  • Takes Satanic Bible to school; boasts about smelling “rotting flesh.”
• Escalating Disturbances:
  • Nathan reportedly tells people he’ll be “famous by Saturday.” [20:33]
  • Development of a “hit list” with classmates’ and family members' names, annotated with methodical and gruesome plans.
• Comedic Riff:
  • James and Jimmie lampoon the era’s "Satanic Panic" and Nathan’s performative darkness:
    • “Same reason some guy in prison will just smear himself in shit, so people leave him alone.” – James [22:09]

4. The Murders: September 30–October 1, 1995 (33:44–39:36)

• Sequence of Events:
  • High school football game night; Ryan stays at a friend's house, calls home, Nathan tries to lure him back, claiming parents want him home.
  • Nathan visits friend’s house in the early hours, looking for Ryan.
  • Ryan eventually returns home and finds a note: “This is Nathan. I murdered two people and I’m going to turn myself in.” [35:57]
  • Discovery:
    • Marilyn (mom): Stabbed, axed, bludgeoned with hammer, knife embedded, nails nearby.
    • Terry (dad): Shot, decapitated, head placed in a wash basin surrounded by ashes, Halloween mask, and a makeshift “altar”.

Notable Moment

• “Just a random wash basin with the dad’s head in it.” – Jimmie [37:15]

5. Aftermath & Investigation (40:13–55:51)

• Nathan’s Capture:
  • Arrested without incident, admits to planning more murders and that he had intended to kill his brother, too.
  • Detailed hit lists found—16 names, some annotated things like "dismember," "eviscerate," or “molest some.”
• Police & Public Reaction:
  • Panic about more victims; sensational rumors spread about lists and Satanic cults.
  • Law enforcement and media quickly run with the ritualistic angle due to the crime scene setup.
• Psychological Profile:
  • Claims to have “talked to Satan.”
    • “Do you talk to Satan?” – Sheriff
    • “Yeah, a little bit. … Just like you talk to the Lord, sometimes he answers back.” – Nathan [52:37]
• Community Shock:
  • Cancelled Halloween due to fears of satanic activity spreading.

Memorable Quotes

• “He left a variety of weapons. … Just a choose your own murder adventure kit.” – James [38:17]
• “He planned to kill the priest, cut him up, and eat him on a hot dog bun.” – James [47:10]
• “He was gonna kill a bunch more people. That was the plan!” – James [43:20]

6. Courtroom, Sentencing, and Cultural Fallout (74:06–82:27)

• Legal Proceedings:
  • Nathan pleads not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • Split among experts; ultimately found legally sane, guilty on all counts; sentenced to 43 years (the maximum possible).
• Demonic Possession Theories:
  • Local and national “demonic experts” provide pseudo-psychological explanations.
    • “I think demons are smart enough to know that these little penny nails won’t hold up a body.” – Retired NYPD ‘demonologist’ Ralph Srirache [67:37]
  • Jimmie and James mock the wild logic and "demonic construction knowledge."
• Community Hysteria:
  • Bellaire cancels trick or treating; parents escort children the following year.
  • Churches host anti-Satanism seminars; townsfolk “sleeping with their parents” out of fear.
    • “Dress as Evel Knievel, you're going to get possessed!” – Jimmie [72:15]

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Quote/Description | Speaker | |---|---|---| | 16:35 | “Not a lot of 12-year-olds going, ‘Hey, what's up with this? No sex, weird smell… Floor length frock?’” | James | | 22:09 | “Same reason some guy in prison will just smear himself in shit, so people leave him alone.” | James | | 35:57 | “This is Nathan. I murdered two people and I’m going to turn myself in.” | The note Ryan found | | 37:15 | “Just a random wash basin with the dad’s head in it.” | Jimmie | | 38:17 | “Just a choose your own murder adventure kit.” | James | | 47:10 | “He wanted to kill [the priest], cut up and eat on a hot dog bun.” | James | | 52:37 | “Yeah, a little bit. … Just like you talk to the Lord, sometimes he answers back.” | Nathan (to Sheriff) | | 67:37 | “I think demons are smart enough to know that these little penny nails won’t hold up a body.” | Ralph Srirache (mocked by hosts) | | 72:15 | “Dress as Evel Knievel, you're going to get possessed!” | Jimmie |

Takeaways & Episode Tone

• Darkly Comedic Yet Empathetic:

  • While never making light of the victims, the hosts maintain snarky commentary on the more absurd elements—especially the Satanic Panic and local rumors.

• Critique of Outsized Reactions:

  • Systematic sendup of sensationalist media, clueless "demonic experts," and small-town myths.
  • Hosts repeatedly emphasize the importance of mental health care over supernatural explanations.

• Deep Dive into the Case:

  • Intriguing blend of historical detail, psychological assessment, and real-life horror.
  • Balanced mix of gallows humor and genuine shock at the brutality of the crime.

Important Timestamps

• 05:14 — Introduction to Bellaire, Ohio
• 12:09 — Brooks family dynamics & Nathan’s early behavior
• 22:44 — Satanic obsessions and rumors in high school
• 33:44 — The night of the murder
• 41:29 — Initial police investigation and the infamous note
• 47:01 — Reading through the “hit list”
• 52:37 — Nathan’s interrogation (“Yeah, I talk to Satan…”)
• 67:36 — The “demonic influence” theories and media aftermath
• 74:07 — Court, sentencing, and town’s reaction

For New Listeners

This episode is an exemplary entry point: it offers classic Small Town Murder fare—thorough storytelling, community context, and sharp comic commentary on both the true crime and the culture surrounding it. If you missed the live Halloween event or have only heard passing references to the “Dark Prince” case, this detailed exploration delivers everything—tragedy, hysteria, and small-town strangeness—leavened with wit.